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By: Jamie Davis Smith, Contributor at Everyday Family and Huffington Post; Professional Photographer.

All parents know that kids are happiest when they're playing outdoors. Unfortunately for them, and us, there are many days every year the weather just doesn’t cooperate. Even though we've reached the summer months, the rain and the heat can conspire against us to keep kids inside. You may be up for splashing in the puddles or bringing out a sprinkler, but for the days you would rather stay dry, check out some creative ideas for indoor fun. After all, a rainy forecast is never a pain when you use your imagination.

Puppets

When boredom strikes and you're stuck inside, a puppet show is always a safe bet. In my house, we keep a few puppets around that can be used to act out any story a child can think up. These Zainys Horse, Unicorn and Crocodile puppets from Manhattan Toy Company are a house favorite. They can be animals, construction workers, or even royalty. We also love the cute, furry animal puppets that let a child's imagination run free. Pair your puppets with the Puppet Playhouse Theater™ and you have a built-in stage for your stories. Or, kids can use the playhouse as a tent. It may be rainy outside, but with their powers of imagination, suddenly it’s a beautiful sunny day on a camping trip in the wild outdoors!

BlocksBuilding with blocks is also a great indoor activity. Go beyond the basics with this fun Create & Play Patterns Block set from Manhattan Toy Company that includes not just unusual shapes but fun patterns to allow kids (and parents) to stretch their creativity. Dolls My daughter loves taking her Groovy Girls on adventures in their Groovy car or to big-kid school with a Groovy locker. I love that these dolls don’t just come in fun themes like ladybug and lollypop, but they also have a variety of skin tones and hair colors. There’s even a boy doll Logan.

Multiple Activity ToysEven babies get bored when stuck inside for too long. Try a small toy packed with multiple activities like this Playful Dino from Manhattan Toy that has bead runs, gears, eyes that flip from open to closed, spinners and more. My son can explore this toy for hours without getting bored. These four activities will surely keep your children occupied until the sunshine reappears or the heat index drops. Which ones do your little ones enjoy when rainy skies keep them inside? For more rainy day activities from our contributor, head on over to http://www.everydayfamily.com/slideshow/stuck-inside-check-30-fun-indoor-activities/ SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave